"Thanks again for doing this Willow…" Grateful, Hazelle sighs, leaning against the doorframe as I stand before the Hawthorne household.
"It's alright Hazelle." I assure her making her smile softly.
"I mean it. Rory has been so excited he won't stop talking about you and I thought Gale and Posy were bad." Chuckling, Hazelle shakes her head.
"Guess I'm quite the conversation starter." Smugly, I smirk jokingly.
"You should hear them, Posy gushing about something called Winnick?" Confused, she furrows her brow as I snicker.
"Oh that, the capital thinks me and Finnick together well some do so call us that." I clarify for her finding the whole shipping thing rather strange but hey do what you want, I guess?
"But you're not." Hazelle gathers.
"Afraid not, sorry to disappoint Posy." Cheekily, I wink making Hazelle chuckle.
"She's a bit too busy trying to pose like you." Smirking, Hazelle tells me.
"What?" Surprised, I arch a brow.
"You should see her when you come out in those dresses, she goes gaga it's adorable!" Animatedly, Hazelle gushes.
"Oh gosh…Where's Gale?" Embarrassed, I glance to the side feeling my cheeks heat up at the thought.
"Coal Mine." Sadly, she sighs.
"Ah…" Pained, I trial off when seeing Hazelle's sombre features.
"Will! Will! I'm ready let's go! Let's go!" Surprised, we both jolt up from the still silence when I feel a body tackle me making me stumble back.
"Alright, alright calm down…" Gently, I pry him off my legs, feeling him hug them as I look down at him, my hands on his shoulders.
"Thanks again for all this." Grateful, Hazelle thanks me.
"It's nothing Hazelle really." Easily, I dismiss it.
"Willllll!" Whining, Rory rushes into the snow waving at me impatience etched into his tone.
"I'm coming!" Tiredly, I sigh shaking my head turning to see the snickering Hazelle.
"Have fun dear?" Smiling, she winks at me as she shuts the door where I am forced to turn and deal with the over eager boy, darting to the fence as I keep a careful eye on him.
"This is taking too loooong…" Whinging, Rory whines as he falls flat to the floor making me arch a brow at him, leaning against the tall tower of the tree, readjusting the string strap of my bow on my shoulder.
"What do you expect? Animals don't leap into the noose." Amused, I chuckle as I watch him stare at his have a staring contest with the snare trap, whining.
"They seem dumb enough too…" Huffing, Rory grumbles leaning back, crossing his arms over his chest pouting at the sight on his hands and knees, staring at his trap.
"We were all dumb once too." I offer.
"Oh yeah?" Rory raises a brow.
"My old man told me a noose was a necktie." Fondly, a small smile crosses my lips at the memory, mum scolding dad for teaching us the hanging tree song, a pretty cool sound despite the dark lyrics, a song I wish I could properly sing like Kat could or Prim.
"You're kidding!" Rory chuckles.
"Nope and I fell for it, we all did. We were kids. Still it takes time why do you think we leave it for so long?" I point out making him whine as he reluctantly stands up, brushing aside any shards sheets of snow.
"Oooh." Understandingly, he smiles turning to me.
"You'll get there come on." Gently, I assure him placing my hand on his shoulders squeezing it as I then place my hand on his back, guiding him away from the snare.
"Where are we going?" Curious, he raises a brow at me.
"Shh you see that there." Lowly, I whisper kneeling down he follows me crouching down as I place my forefinger on my lips. He silently stares up noting my finger point towards the bird perched upon the branch.
"A bird…?" Surprised, Rory raises a brow.
"Hey it's meat now remember what I taught you deep breath, focus and…" Delicately, I whisper my fingertips brushing against his gently passing the bow over to him, guiding his fingertips over as he takes a grip on the bow, focusing, aiming as I gently guide him through it.
"BOO!" Startled, I release a sharp cry, feeling a pair of warm muscular arms coil around me making me screech, feeling my muscle tense up releasing a sharp cry of agony, of fear, of pain, no, no, no! I won't die! I won't die! I won't DIE! Flailing, I thrash in his arms, petrified meanwhile Rory gasps in shock as his arrow flies through the air piercing the currents, impaling into the air as the bird flies away, fleeing into the high heavens
"No stop! Stop! I don't want to die! I don't want to! No! No! His arms, he's going to…" Shaking, I feel his nails dig deep into my skin, tossing, throwing, slamming me into the river. He betrayed me, he betrayed me! Jack will pay! Argh! Pained, I screech out, my chest grimacing, convulsing, flailing as I scream.
"Will! Will! It's fine it's just me it's just…" Hurt, Gale calls out to me as my whispers crack, breaking as I feel my thrashing form go limp, my body hunched over, shaking, quivering, my loud sobs simmering down as I feel a warm breath graze my ear, gently shushing me as I curl into a ball. I dive my head down into my hands, sniffling my sob, releasing small noises of pain, of anguish, seeing him there, I didn't want to, he attacked first, he attacked first, he hit me first, he was going to betray me I had to, I had to think for myself, I had to.
"He betrayed me, he betrayed me I didn't…I didn't mean too! I didn't mean too! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Wailing, I whimper, tears cascading down
"Will? What's wrong with her? What did you do!?" Panicked, Rory's voice distorts as I whimper, Jack, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry I should have died, I should have…
"Rory go back now." Sternly, Gale's voice rings out as I wail in his arms.
"B-But…" Weakly, Rory whimpers.
"Rory!" Sternly, Gale snaps making me flinch whimpering, there coming to get me, no, no, the careers have to run have to run, have to…
"Will it's alright you're not in the games, you're safe and sound at home, you're at home, you're in the forest hunting with me…it's Gale." Gently, Gale's voice rings through. I release a shaky quivering breathing, feeling my form go limp, melting into his arms as he gently shushes me rocking me back and forth as I curl into his arms.
"I'm sorry…I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry…" Whimpering, I apologise to him feeling his fingertips comb through my blonde roots, rocking me back and forth. He places me in his lap, cradling me in his arms. My nose twitches at the comforting scent of pine, oak and coal as I feel him nestle into my neck, nuzzling me, attempting to comfort me as I curl into his embrace.
"Don't be. You have nothing to apologise for…" Gently, he tells me making my voice quivering him having no idea how wrong he is. I have to apologise for everything, everything I have done, everything I will have caused, I have a lot to apologise for…